Improvement in game apparatus



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G. H. IRELAND.

. Game Apparatus.

N0.]55,089, Patented Sept.15,1874.

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Game Apparatus. N0.155,089. Patented Sept. l5,1874.

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2 1 2; 4 M; 4M a gawk/6% WW Z? THE GRAPHIC CQPHOTOUTFLSQI-H PARK-PLACER! UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

GEORGE H. IRELAND, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN GAME APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,089, dated Septeml er 15, 1874 application filed August 13, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, GEORGE H. IRELAND, of Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Parlor-Game, of which the following is a specification:

The object of this improved parlor-game, as with many other games, is to impart information on practical subjects while affording amusement to the participants. The principal implements of the game are a table or board having thereon a geographical representation of any one or more of the divisions or subdivisions of the earthfor example, the United States of America a teetotum, which is to be spun so as to indicate what may be the move of the player over the surface of the geographical representation; and pointers distinguishable from each other, and for each player, by which to indicate the position, on the geographical representation, of the player as the game proceeds. The game is based on supposed trips from one locality to another as, for example, from the city of Boston to the city of New York, and either by railroad or by water, or by both water and railroad, and by any supposed or, what is better, any wellknown route-as, for example, in the trip given as an illustration, via Worcester, Springfield, Hartford, and New Haven, and including in such trip more or less stoppingplaces at which the supposed traveler must stop as he journeysfor example, in the route selected as an illustration, Framingham, Worcester, North Brookfield, Palmer, Springfield, Hartford, New Britain, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, Mott Haven, finally reaching New York city.

In the accompanying plates of drawings,

Plate 1 is a map illustration of the United States of America; and Plate 2 contains views of the implements employed to play the game, with the map illustration of Plate 1.

The map illustration, Plate 1, is shown as marked off with various routes of travel, either by land or by water, or by both land and water.

The implements, shown in Plate 2, consist, first, of a teetotum, A, which has its disk B divided into six parts, a, on both its faces or sides I), and these six parts or divisions to are marked, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.; and, second, of pointers O marked as indicated, or otherwise, so as to be distinguishable from each other. These pointers are for the players, one for each.

In addition to the above in the play of the game, as hereinafter described, checks F (see Figs. 1 and 2) may be used. These checks indicate productions or manufactures, and are marked with the name of the same, and the localities of the geographical representation where they are produced or made, as the case may beas, for instance, see Figs. 1 and 2, which, Without further explanation, fully illustrate the above.

The marks on the teetotum represent the moves to be made by the players, and if the route selected is by land, then the side of the teetotum-disk shown by Fig. 3 is to be placed uppermost on the center-pin f of the teetotum. If by water, then the side of the teetotumdisk shown by Fig. 4: is to be similarly placed uppermost 011 the center-pin f of the teetotum. The pointers are also to be marked properly for the means of transportation for which they are supposed to be substitutes by representationas, for instance, as a locomotive or railroad-train, a steamboat or sailing vessel, &c.

The game can be played by two or more players. Each player takes a pointer and, with a selected route for travel, the game is begun, and continued by spinning the teetotum in turn, and making the play indicated by the teetotum when it stops, the winner bein g the one who first reaches the point of destination. I i

In addition to the above, the checks F may be used in the play of the game, and they are to be divided among the players, and with them, first having selected a route-as, for instance, Boston to San Francisco by landthe game is played, as follows, by spinning the teetotum in turn, and then moving according thereto, and taking on or letting off freight-that is, the checks Faccording as the teetotum says. In no case should a player let off a check which marks any production or manufacture belonging to the locality at which the player stops, but should always let off freight, if the teetotum so says, which does not indicate a production or manufacture of such locality, and if he has none, then the player has to draw a check from the checks collected or in. reserve in the game. The game is won by the player who is without freight when he reaches San Francisco, but if neither one is without, then by the one having the least amount.

The play of the game may be varied in many ways, according as the players may agree, and when played by a water-route the same movements are made in a similar manner as by a land route, and for a water-route it is deemed best that the route should be indicated, as shown in the drawings, with points for stopping, and for entering a harbor or river to discharge or' take on freight.

In this. game the player travels in imagination over the real routes of commerce, he crosses the Statelines, the rivers, mountainranges, deserts, or he sees their relative position to each other, and learns something about each place he travels through. structs the player in the important productions and industrial interests of the country, and in a short time, unwittingly, he learns all the important elements of the countrys wealth.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The geographicalgame apparatus herein described, consisting of a table or board having upon its face a geographical map, a tee totum with pointers, and checks, all constructed substantially as herein shown and described, for the purpose set forth.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 27th day of April, A. D.

GEO. H. IRELAND, Witnesses:

EDWIN W. BROWN, W. F. DINSMORE.

The game in- 

